Is Javi’s job safe?

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Vicarage Road, Aug 10, 2019.

  1. Chiswell

    Chiswell Academy Graduate

    Right now Javi must look at the back four and ask himself who are the best defenders. I know it's surprising but I have to say that for me defensively Janmaat is ahead of Kiko and Masina edges Holebas. I believe there is a case for Kiko playing in front of Janmaat as they link up well and Kiko would be free to get forward and provide pace out wide (maybe until Sarr gets going). I know many will disagree about Masina but he is much better than Holebas at heading and stronger in the tackle. Holebas is superior going forward but at the moment the priority is shutting up shop.
     
  2. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Mrs Gomes, we thank you for your continued support of the forum.

    You will appreciate that young Bachmann cannot yet be entrusted with first team goalkeeping responsibilities.

    Ah...
     
  3. AndrewH63

    AndrewH63 Reservist

    Fewer than 21 points after Boxing Day and Garcia is toast. The advantage of the winter break is we can give the new head coach ten days to get to know he squad. Gino already interviewing candidates in his mind.
     
  4. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Guys why are worrying about this . The world could end tomorrow, why are we not concern d about that.
     
  5. AndrewH63

    AndrewH63 Reservist

    No he can't to the quality required for a Premier League Centre Forward. He has the physicque and heart of Audley Harrison. A player who lacks the believe and desire to be a top professional sportsman, Of our four centre forwards, I think Gray wants to do it but is the least talented, Okaka lacks the engine and application and Succes just lacks any self belief during the 90 minutes of the match. Deeney must know if Welbeck gets fit his time is up. But the other three! He is head and shoulders above them.
     
    WillisWasTheWorst likes this.
  6. cyaninternetdog

    cyaninternetdog Forum Hippie

    SubGenius.com
     
  7. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    Especially as Potter tweaked their formation after we had the better of the first 10 minutes. There's been a lot of understandable comment about the body language & players not looking sufficiently "up for it". Derek Payne made an interesting comment on 3CR....that if the players are sticking to the coach's instructions & formation, but the oppo's set-up is totally over-running that, it is very difficult for the players to get any foothold no matter how much effort they put in. The game effectively passes them by & the end result is what we saw on Saturday. It seemed to me a polite criticism of Gracia's unwillingness to change.

    I wonder if the fact that Gray has scored in pre-season influenced Gracia's selection adversely. He doesn't want to drop Deeney; he wanted to play GD; it would have been unfair not to select Gray. So he chose all 3 & instead of going 4-3-3 to maximise that, he put GD where we all know he is not that effective.
    The alternative should have been either Deeney-GD or Gray-GD as the 2 up front. He's not willing to leave Deeney out & not selecting Gray would send the message that his selections are not based on form. So we ended up with a formation & approach that suited Brighton perfectly....& stuck with it all game!
     
    hornetboy1 likes this.
  8. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    Good points.

    I think Gracia will change the formation though. We have Sarr and Welbeck to enter the fray. He has to change our formation to fit them in. We should, IMO, evolve to a 4-2-1-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation. This will utilise Welbeck and Sarr on the flanks, one central striker and one specialist central midfielder sitting in behind the forwards. We'll still have Doucoure and Capoue sitting deep and four at the back.

    I think that would work well, with the players we have.
     
  9. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior Staff Member

    In all seriousness can we at least try Deeney in central defence?
    It removes having to play him upfront opening space for Gray or Welbeck eventually/hopefully
    Surely we can chance he can do a job there and can lead from the back.
    He is too slow to be effective upfront but can head and tackle and intimidate
    Can still go up for corners and penalties if he likes
     
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  10. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    I hope this is a joke.
     
    Chumlax likes this.
  11. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Not really. Gino has had 5 or 6 windows to address our defence. His solution is Dawson.

    Even of their were no time limit on transfers, he wouldn't sign any decent defenders. He doesn't think they're worth it.

    We had a defence with an average age of 32 and a total cost of about 8m (including goalkeeper) on Saturday. It's hardly a shock that they are awful.
     
    CarlosKickaballs and NathWFC like this.
  12. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Who would we want to replace Javi?

    We saw first-hand on Saturday what can happen when a younger, more progressive type of manager inherits a squad with decent technical players (which I’d argue for the most part, we have) and introduces a more progressive style of play. But, if we’re in the business of replacing Javi, that means we’re deep in the relegation mire, which probably isn’t the best time to introduce that type of football.

    I think it’s not going to be relevant, because I still have plenty of confidence in Javi to prove Saturday (and even the last few games of last season to some extent) was just a blip.

    I really hope that the introduction of Welbeck and Sarr facilities a change in formation, with the former leading the line, supplied by Geri, Pereyra and Sarr.
     
  13. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    Because if we could just sign a bloke called Turner as well, in any position, then we could really go into overdrive.
     
    RookeryDad, Sting and AupaAthletic like this.
  14. Leighton Buzzer

    Leighton Buzzer Reservist

    That bottom line tells the problem the most accurately that I have read on this forum.
    I don't believe the problem is totally down to Javi, as I have said before, I think he has done a good job with the players at his disposal, possibly with the exception of not giving some of the youngsters a chance, but then if they are being loaned out to get more playing experience I do not have too much of a problem with that.
     
  15. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    The timing of the o.p. suggests that, rather than waiting until after one game, it was being typed up as the third goal went in.
     
    Burnsy likes this.
  16. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    Any italian that wears a well-cut suit, expensive sunglasses and sports designer stubber 2 hours after shaving. A 20 a day marlboro habit desirable but not essential. They are 2 a penny over there.
     
  17. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    We're ain't seen nothin yet
     
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  18. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    I doubt if he's simply a yes man. But he can work within the 'Pozzo system' where he's not primarily responsible for player recruitment which is why he was rewarded with a long contract.

    I dare say he provides input though. He'll have pointed out the inadequacies in our defence. Not that they'll have needed to be pointed out. They must be glaringly obvious to Gino, Duxberry and Giraldi anyway because they certainly are to us.

    But, for some reason, we haven't recruited a good, young, up-and-coming CB because it wasn't considered enough of a priority or no-one was identified at a price Gino was comfortable with.
     
  19. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Given these strict criteria, after some research, I’ve fallen upon the following names.

    1. Massimo Carrera: classy Juve defender in the 90’s who went to become their technical director, before moving on to win the Russian league with Spartak in 2017. Currently out of work, so pleases tight Gino. No word on his smoking habits, but a rugged handsomeness that I trust will please you.

    2. Eusebio di Francesco: an undistinguished playing career, but has had decent success in management, particularly when over-achieving as Sassuolo and taking them to the Europa League a couple of seasons back. Most recently managed Roma, but resigned upon elimination from the Champions League last season, although did mastermind their incredible comeback victory over Barcelona in the same completion the previous season. Again, unsure of his smoking habit. Not the most pleasing on the eye, but wins points in my book for his penchant for designer glasses.

    3. The long-shot. Simone Inzaghi: solid playing career, largely overshadowed by his brother Pippo, who was once rumored to be signing for us and would surely resurrect his playing career to don the famous yellow and black halves. Would also finally give TVOR his infamous “Fox in the box”. Currently doing a decent job managing Lazio, where’s he’s become famed for his ability to make in-game adjustments and if internet articles are to be believed, high-pressing counter attacking football, which would be fun to watch. An Italian in the classic mode, all sharp suits and flowing hair, who’ll get pulses racing with his football and his touch line appearance.
     
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  20. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Those criteria are flawed as they cause us to exclude;
    4. "Alan Pardew. Could do a job. "
     
  21. Robert Peel

    Robert Peel Squad Player

    Excellent research.

    Do they speaka da English? No amount of cigarettes can make up for that.
     
  22. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    fkin COR!

    Inzaghi's the one for me. Suit sharp as a razor and hair you'd never tire of running your fingers through.

    Meanwhile we're stuck with a manager who's only link to italy is his ability to suck spaghetti through the gap in his teeth.
     
    RookeryDad, Burnsy and GoingDown like this.
  23. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    I know what you were trying to do with this joke, but I reckon you did the reverse.
     
  24. miked2006

    miked2006 Premiership Prediction League Proprietor

    God, that's what a man should look like.
     
  25. lowerrous

    lowerrous First Team

    Good work - Eusebio di Francesco in particular seems a very good shout. He favours a modern day, ball playing 4-3-3 as well.

    He's a decent age for a manager also at 49.

    One question mark though is he's never played or managed outside of Italy. Also, he's only just joined Sampdoria - don't suppose he'd jump ship right away?

    Carrera also seems to have a similar tactical approach to di Francesco.

    Not as sold on Inzaghi though - getting to 5th with Lazio is only a moderate achievement, the other two appear to have had greater successes. When Carrera won the Russian league with Spartak it was their first time in 16 years.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2019
  26. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    We should be grateful for anyone prepared to come to little old Watford and attempt to scrape us up off the floor after losing our first 7 games. It will be too late by then to attract the likes of Mark Hughes.
     
  27. We can always get my favourite Pozzo era manager, the wee magician Gianfranco he comes from Italy, he's only 5 foot 3, Zola
     
  28. CleyHorn

    CleyHorn Reservist

    Yes. We need a new manager with a catchy Mediterranean name. Should be able to deal with that clot Nuno Espirito Santo up the road. Javi Gracia just doesn't cut it.
     
  29. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    My apologies, I overlooked the fact that Eusebio had taken over at Samp. I doubt he’d have any interest in moving abroad.

    I think Carrera fits the profile of managers Gino might look at, in that he’s unemployed, and has had success abroad.

    I think if we’re in trouble after 10-15 games, we may see a stop-gap type of appointment, brought in with the remit of keeping us safe through whatever means necessary, followed by the appointment of a more long-term option, hopefully in the mould of an up and coming younger manager, much the same as Brighton appear to have done in hiring Potter.
     
  30. Knight GT

    Knight GT Predictor extraordinaire 2013/14

    Let’s rock
     
  31. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    I agree I think it would be worth a try as he frequently gets back and helps out in defence, especially at set pieces. He would not be the first player to switch being CF to being a CB at WFC and visa versa.
     
  32. Cthulhu

    Cthulhu Keyboard Warrior Staff Member

    Reverse Mooney
     
  33. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Mariappa in for Dawson, Sarr starting on the RW. A 2-1 win at Goodison. And all is good again.
     
  34. NathWFC

    NathWFC First Team

    Dear ****ing god.
     
    Knight GT and Burnsy like this.
  35. Manatleisure

    Manatleisure Squad Player

    Just emphasising what a 'good' signing Dawson is. ;)
     

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